Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod - Decade of Service Recognized

Date: May 20, 2009
Contact: Lauren McKean, NPS Highlands Center Project Manager, 508-957-0731

Superintendent George Price announced today that the Barnstable County AmeriCorps Cape Cod received the Northeast Region’s George B. Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Group Service.  One of 16 nominees from the 13 states of National Park Service’s Northeast Region, from Maine to Virginia, AmeriCorps was selected for their excellence in service.  The award is named for Mr. Hartzog who was the Director of the National Park Service who initiated the Volunteer-In-Parks program in 1970.  Hartzog said, “When a VIP (volunteer) agrees to share his talents, skills and interests with the National Park Service, he is paying us one of the highest compliments possible by offering a most valued possession – his time.”  Price reflected, “Each division’s work throughout the seashore is enhanced by AmeriCorps Cape Cod’s volunteer service.  We have been proud to work with them and are happy to honor their 10^th Anniversary.”

Since its beginning in 1999, the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program has provided 10 years of quality service to the 15 towns on Cape Cod.  During this time, the national seashore has benefited more than 30,000 hours of AmeriCorps service.  Through group projects and individual placements, Corps members have worked with the seashore planning, natural resources, cultural resources, maintenance, and fire management divisions to improve the quality of park facilities and visitor information. 

A full-time residential service program, AmeriCorps Cape Cod performs community service in the areas of natural resource management and disaster services. The program is funded by Barnstable County and through grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Massachusetts Service Alliance.  Housing for members is provided by Barnstable County and Cape Cod National Seashore.

For more information about the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program visit their website at www.rdoac.org/americorps or call their office, 508-375-6869.

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